Alternating piston rotary engine



Aug. 1, 1933. A KOLKO ,1,920,201

ALTERNATING PISTON ROTARY ENGINE .fm/miur ra/z /CO/o Aug. 1, 1933.

A. KOLKO ALTERNATING PIsToN ROTARY ENGINE Filed oet. 25, 195.0 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. l1,1933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Aron Kolko, C

Application October 25,

and in France 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to rotary machines such as motors, compressors or pumps, of a known type in which the annular set of blades or paddles are secured alternately to one or the other of two rotatable rings which are placed side by side and are rotatable in a cylindrical casing or frame, thus forming between each pair of blades and the peripheral and lateral walls of the cylindrical casing, a suitable chamber whose volume is periodically variable according to the relative and alternating oscillation of one ring relatively to the other during the common rotation. In the case of a pump, such relative oscillations are produced by the action, upon said rings, of rollers actuated by the driving shaft and rolling upon a stationary central controlling cam; in the case of a motor, n the contrary, such movements produce, by reason of the reaction of the stationary polygonal cam upon the movement of the rollers, the rotation of the shaft under the eect of the force of expansion of the power fluid in the expansion chambers.

The invention relates to an improved construction for machines of this class, employing two or more rings, which is characterized by the fact that a cylindrical drum rotates together with the shaft about the stationary polygonal cam having N angles, said drum having a concentric recess containing one or more sets of two rollers (if the machine has two rings) whose axes are mutually displaced by each of the rings carrying the blades is provided with internal bosses Whose lateral edges have the form of ramps cooperating with the two aforesaid rollers in such manner that in the case of the compressor, one of the rollers, when rolling upon the fixed polygonal cam, will be alternately radially driven to the exterior and will thus proceed between the two corresponding ramps of the corresponding bosses, thus moving them apart and hence imparting to the two rings a relative movement in one direction, and then recedes radially towards the interior in order to give place to the relative inverse movement under the action of the other roller which acts in its turn, as above stated, upon the other ramps of the bosses'.

Instead of employing a single set of two rollers, it is preferable, in order to distribute and to balance all the stresses, to provide several sets of two rollers and a corresponding number of bosses on each ring, and all of the rollers of the same set which are driven outwardly at the same time olombes, France 1930, Serial No. 491,233, October 28, 1929 by the stationary cam during a given period, will be inserted at the same time between the corresponding ramps of the successive bosses alternately secured to the two rings, in order to separate the said ramps and to impart to the two rings a movement of oscillation in a given direction, whilst. the remaining alternate. rollers of the other kind are left free by the xed cam and can thus return to the centre, thus allowing the spaces between the other ramps of the bossesto close up, thereby allowing freedom for the preceding movement. During the succeeding period, the rollers of the second set act on the contrary to separate the bosses, whilst the rollers of the first set return to the centre, thus allowing this movement tQ` take place, and so on in a periodic manner.

The invention further relates to other features which will be specied in the description.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example an embodiment of the invention in the case of a machine comprising two rings.

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a cross-section and a diagrammatic axial section of the machine.

Figs. 3 and 4 show respectively a front view and an axial section of one of the rings provided with blades and bosses.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing an axial section of the rollers.

Fig. 6 is a partial diagrammatic view on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the forces operative in the apparatus.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a modied arrangement of the rollers used to impart the motion.

The apparatus comprises a cylindrical casing or frame 1 which is closed by a cover 2 and in which vtwo ring-shaped members 4 and 5 are mounted side by side, each ring thus occupying one-half the width of the chamber 3 between the ends of the cylinder. Each ring carries respective blades or paddles 6--7 (Fig. 1), each blade occupying the whole Width ofthe chamber 3 and the blades of the two rings being imbricated in such manner that the successive blades encountered along the periphery will be alternately secured to the one or the otherV of the two rings. These blades thus form, between each pair of blades and the cylindrical and lateral surfaces of the main casing 1 2, various chambers whose volume will vary inan automatic and periodic manner corresponding to alternate oscillatory movements of the two rings with reference to one another, such movements having a limited amplitude, that is to say, during certain phases of common rotation ofl the two rings, one ring will assume a momentary movement in advance whilst the other assumes an inverse and delayed movement, and during the succeeding phase, the contrary effect takes place.

This general arrangement is well known, and has been described already in the patent application Serial No. 313,736; but the present invention relates to the following driving gear which is interposed between the central polygonal fixed cam 17 and the said rings carrying the blades.

A drum 15 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) is rotatably disposed around the cam 17 and is centered with the latter by means of bearing surfaces formed on the cam, said drum being secured Ato the shaft 16 (which may optionally extend through the cam) said drum being pierced with apertures after the manner of a spider, for the radial guiding of the driving rollers g which are loosely mounted in the said spider. The outer periphery of said drum is circular, and it forms a centering surface for the rings 4 and 5, as will be further specied.

Each ring has on its internal face as many spaced bosses or projections as there are blades designated by 9 for the ring 4 and l0 for the ring 5; the said bosses are preferably extended on both sides of the middle plane x-:c (Fig. 2) and are symmetrical with reference to this plane. In the example herein represented, the said bosses are supposed to be situated in the radial prolongation of the said blades of the ring, but they may be situated at other places, but they must however be regularly spaced along the circumference. Each boss comprises, in cross-section, an internal face whose middle part has a circular outline, concentric with the axis of the drum (that is, with the shaft` 16 and hence with the axis oi the cam 17) and two lateral parts having the form of ramps such as ll (Fig.` 6). The middle circular part rests upon the periphery of the drum l5, which thus serves for the centering of the rings 4 and 5 coaxially with the shaft of the machine during the relative oscillating motion of the rings with reference to the drum. The lateral ramps 1l cooperate with the rollers' g. It will be observed that if the machine serves as a compressor, and if the drum 15 secured to the shaft 16 is rotated, when a roller such as 13 (Fig. 6) is driven outwardly when it comes near the angle oi the polygonal cam, it will be introduced after the manner of a wedge between the bosses 9 and 10, thus driving them apart and giving to the two rings a momentary relative movement, which Will be in advance for one ring and will represent a delay for the other, relatively to the uniform rotation of the whole combination of the said drum and rollers. When the said roller has proceeded beyond the vangle of the polygonal cam, it can return to the centre, thus allowing the two bosses to move towards one another between the oppositely-situated ramps of the bosses', thus imparting to the rings a momentary relative movement in the reverse direction.

Each roller g makes contact with the other members at five points, i. e. the polygonal cam, the two ramps of the bosses between which it is situated, and the two walls of the aperture of the spider in which it is positioned. As in the case of an ordinary cylindrical roller it would be impossible to provide for a rolling motion without slipping "at all the points of contact, each roller is in reality of a multiple construction, and consists (Fig. 5) of a set of coaxial rollers mounted one. common loose axle 19 and rolling upon different members. In a preferred construction there are employed three single or double rollers, as shown in Fig. 5; comprlsmg a central roller 20 adapted to roll upon the adjacent surface 11 of one of the bosses (such as 10) and upon the corresponding face 21 of the spider 15; a second roller 22 which is made in two parts and has the symmetrical position with reference to the middle plane, and is adapted to roll at the same time upon the adjacent ramp 1l of the other boss such as 9 and upon the corresponding face 23 of the spider 15; and a third roller 24 which is made in twoparts having the symmetrical position with reference to the middle plane, and rolling upon the central cam 17. The outer lateral sides of said rollers 24 make contact with the edges 17 of the cam 17 in order to prevent the lateral displacements of the whole device. With this arrangement, and irrespectively of the direction of motion and of the reactions, each of the said rollers will roll without slipping.

'As shown in the modifications (Figs. 8 and 9) it is possible to replace each of the rollers cooperating with the said bosses and with the spider, by a partial roller having the form of a cylindrical sector 32 or 33, these two partial rollers being mounted in adjacent position on the axle 19 of a roller adapted to roll upon the cam, and can thus assume movements of oscillation relatively to one another around the said common axle. Fig. 9 shows this relative movement, and herein the rollers 24 may be secured to the axle 19 and the three rollers 20, 22 and 22 of Fig. 5 are replaced by two sectors 32 and 33 which may occupy the whole width of the three rollers above mentioned.

The arrangement is such that the delays of one ring with reference to the drum having a uniform rotation, correspond in time and by equal quantities to the advance motions of the other ring. To obtain this result, the following conditions must be complied with. In the present case, the line h. b is radial, due to the fact that the roller is held in a spider whose walls are parallel with the radius h b; but the connection between the roller and the drum might be made by other means which would oblige the centre of the roller to describe (for instance) the line h b differing from the radius. The condition is that in all cases the paths h c1 and h c2 (Fig. 6) described by the roller when rolling upon either ring if it were released from its spider, shall be symmetrical with( reference to the line actually described by the axis of the roller in virtue of its connection with the drum. The outline of the cam 17 may be always made suchthat the roller device as a whole will be constantly in contact, without play or pressure, on the one hand with the cam 17 and on the other hand with the bosses 9 and 10 of the two rings, irrespectively of the position of the drum with reference to the cam, and irrespectively of the outline of the ramps of the bosses of the rings.

To simplify the expression, the central cam is designated as polygonal cam and it is shown in the drawings as a straight-sided polygon, but it is understood that in reality the outline of the cam, which is determined by the several factors of the apparatus, will follow a continuous 'curve having N vertices and whose sides are curved without exception, such as the curve C in Fig. 7, and are not straight.

Y the said annular chamber.

aeaogor En order that 'the apparatus may serve as a motor, it is simply necessary to provide, in number equal to the half of thev number of blades of each ring and at equidistant points in the annular chamber 3, suitable admission orifices 26, exhaust orifices 26a and ignition devices 27. The expansion of the gas exploding in the small chambers positioned between the blades or wings will impart a relative motion to the said rings, and this-due to the action upon the rollers and to the rotation provided by the stationary camtakes the form of a rotation imparted to the drum 15 and to the shaft 16. l/If N is taken to represent the number of blades upon each ring, each space or chamber between the blades is filled N times per revolution, supposing that the apparatus operates as a two-stroke engine and that there are 2N chambers, the total volume produced per revolution, if v is the variation of volume of each chamber, will be equal to 2N2v. This total volume or contents will be 2N2o for two revolutions of the shaft,for a four-stroke cycle.

In the present construction of the motor, three simultaneous explosions will take place at points equally distant from the annular chamber 3, and this will afford 36 explosions per revolution in Obviously, the number of explosions and their disposition about the axis can be changed by employing the proper number of blades and by suitably arranging the points of explosion represented by the sparkplugs 27.

As a constructional feature of the arrangement herein represented, it will be remarked (Fig. 2) that the stationary cam 17- comprises a circular shoulder 35 upon which the cylindrical frame or body of the machine is mounted and centered. This disposition much simplifies and facilitates the construction and assembling of the apparatus; it eliminates all distortion due to expansion of the main body and to the reaction of the shaft, and hence furthers t'atable, a cam upon said shaft having at least the proper leakless conditions.

I claim:

l. A rotary machine of the class described, in-

cluding the combination, with at least two rings provided with blades, a shaft and a cam thereon having at least one angular projection, of a circluding the combination, with at least two rings provided with blades, a shaft and a cam thereon having at least one angular projection, of a. circular drum concentrically mounted upon said -shaft and having twice as many apertures therein as there are angular projections upon said cam, a radially movable free rolling device disposed in each aperture of said drum and each consisting of a plurality of roller elements mountedupon and connected together by a common axle, and a series of bosses fixed alternately upon said rings and divided into two groups, there being as many bosses in each group as there are angular projections on said cam, and each group of which is arranged to simultaneously cooperate with distinct elements oi' the same rolling devices.

3. A rotary machine of the class described, including the combination, with at least two rings provided with blades, a shaft and a cam thereon having at least one angular projection, of a circular drum concentrically mounted upon said shaft and having twice as many apertures therein as there are angular projections upon said cam, connected together end to end by a common axle, and a series of bosses fixed alternately upon said rings and divided into two groups, there being as many bosses in each group as there are angularprojections on said cam, in which groups, the bosses of one group upon one ring cooperating with a rst roller element of the rolling devices, the bosses of the other group upon the other ring cooperating with aY second element of said rolling devices, and said c am cooperating with a third element of said rolling devices.

4. A rotary machine of the class described, including the combination with :at least two rings provided with blades, a shaft, and a cylindrical casing in which said rings are rotatable, of a cam upon said shaft having at least one angular projection and a circular shoulder rigid with said cam affording ready assembling and centering of said casing, a circular drum concentrically mounted upon said shaft and having twice as many apertures therein as there are angular projections upon said cam, a radially movable free roller disposed in each of said apertures, and a series of bosses fixed alternately upon said rings and divided into two groups, there being as many bosses in each group as there are angular projections on said cam, and each group of which is arranged to simultaneously cooperate with said rollers.

5. A rotary machine of the class described, including the combination, with at leastV two rings providedK with blades,'and a shaft, of a cylindrical casing in which said rings are rotwo angular projections, at least one admission port and at least one exhaust port, a circular drum concentrically mounted upon said shaft and having twice as many apertures therein as there are angular projections upon said cam, a radially movable free roller disposed in each of said apertures, and a series of bosses fixed alternately upon said rings and divided into two groups, there being as many bosses in each group as there are angular projections on said cam, and eachl group of which is arranged to simultaneously cooperate with said rollers.

6. A rotary machine of the class described, including the combination, with atleast two rings provided with blades, and a shaft, of a cylindrical casing in which said rings are rotatable, a

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cam upon said shaft having at least two angular projections, at least one admission port, at least one exhaust port, at least one ignition device, a circular drum concentrically mounted upon said shaft and having twice as many apertures therein as there are angular projections upon said cam, a radially movable free roller disposed 4in each of'said apertures, and a series of bossesv xed alternately upon said rings and divided into two groups, there being as many bosses n each group as there are angular projections on said cam, and each group of which is arranged to simultaneously cooperate with the said rollers.

' ARON KOI-KO. 

